West End agrees to naked dancers

Naked table-dancing is coming to the West End after a nightclub won a controversial bid to scrap the rule forcing its performers to stay partly clothed.

Westminster council's licensing chiefs approved a request from Peter Stringfellow to end the policy stipulating that all tableside dancers must wear at least a G-string.

But the move - which brings Westminster into line with neighbouring Camden - has dismayed some West End residents, who fear it will turn his club into little more than a "brothel". And they claim the 18 other tabledancing clubs in Westminster will be forced to follow suit, making the area notably sleazier.

James Tait, spokesman for the Covent Garden Community Association, which opposed the application, said: "We think Westminster council missed an opportunity to set some standards for the area here. They have put all kinds of conditions on what may or may not be done within the club but they could have simply said no to nudity.

"This is a place where people both live and work, and sex on a stick is not the kind of thing that is wanted around here. We will be fighting to make sure that this ruling does not set a precedent in the West End, as we are very concerned about what other people might be planning."

Mr Stringfellow, who gave evidence for several hours during yesterday's all-day hearing, said: "I will be holding a meeting with my girls tonight and we will do a proper launch of the new policy in about three weeks' time. None of my girls will be forced to dance naked if they don't want to, and no touching will be permitted by customers whatsover.

"There has always been a degree of nudity in Westminster but we are living in a different world now and have to move with the times. I think a lot of clubs will probably do the same as me, if they're allowed."

Mr Stringfellow made the application after claiming that Camden council's policy of allowing dancers full nudity was putting him at a competitive disadvantage. Camden has seen an increase in tabledancing clubs in the past two years as a result of its more relaxed regime.

Glenn Nicie, operations director at Mayfair tableside dancing club For Your Eyes Only, said his club had now put in its own application for fully nude dancing.

He said: "It is pretty much a commercial decision, really. We have no choice but to do the same as Peter. Our application will have to be judged on its own merits but I don't think we'll have too many problems getting it."

Councillor Frances Blois, chairman of Westminster's licensing subcommittee, said: "We are satisfied that Stringfellows is a well-run and managed club.

"There were no police objections to this variation of the current licence and we have granted the variation until the end of May.

"At that time the licence renewal will be required to be heard before the licensing sub-committee. Our committees decide every individual case on its merits and council enforcement officers will continue to carefully monitor the premises."

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